Colorful beads are everywhere in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, with the signature symbol of the festival draped around necks, used as decorations and thrown from floats and balconies. Tons and tons ...

As Mardi Gras kicks into full gear, the city has turned to a friendly-sounding buffer to keep beads from slipping into storm drains. They're called "gutter buddies," and they consist of orange sleeves ...

After the New Orleans Department of Public Works pulled more than 7 million pounds of debris from storm drains over the last several months, the city installed 200 orange "gutter buddies" along parade ...

In New Orleans, Mardi Gras is not just Fat Tuesday itself, it's a multi-week celebration. It's also a huge mess. The plastic beads, cups, and trinkets that fly from the floats don't all get caught — ...

In New Orleans, Mardi Gras is not just Fat Tuesday itself, it's a multi-week celebration. It's also a huge mess. The plastic beads, cups, and trinkets that fly from the floats don't all get caught — ...